A SOLDIER has begun an epic 250-mile journey on foot from Hinckley to Newcastle in memory of two of his former comrades.

Carl Hollingworth is running the equivalent of a marathon a day for 10 days to raise cash for Help for Heroes and is even throwing in a freefall parachute jump for good measure.

The 24-year-old former Royal Marine set off from the war memorial in Argents Mead on Saturday morning where he laid a wreath and spent a few quiet moments reading the names of those from our borough who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Carl will run to the Lancashire town of Blackburn and then Sunderland, laying a wreath in both towns, before travelling up to the marine base in Newcastle. The trek is in memory of Tony Evans and another of Carl’s friends, who he doesn’t wish to name, who were both killed in Afghanistan in November 2008.

He is also hoping to raise money for a marine who lost his leg in action on Christmas Eve 2011 and needs £11,000 for a prosthetic limb, by doing a parachute jump in Preston during the epic challenge.

And just to make it that little bit harder, former John Cleveland College student Carl is carrying all of his supplies with him, including food, drink, SAS-style sleeping bag, GPS and solar panel among others, in a backpack that weighs in at eight stone.

Once his journey is over Carl will be returning to the armed forces after he re-enlisted with the Coldstream Guards, whose duties include protecting the Queen.

To follow Carl’s journey or to sponsor him go to www.bmycharity.com/loveisforthefitinjuredandfallen or text Help63£1 to 70070. For more details search Facebook for ‘CarlHollingworth HelpforHeroes’.